Improvement in the manufacture of charcoal



' w. P. McCONNELL Making Cha 'rcoai.

' Paten ted Nov. 4,1851.

UNITED STATES WV. P. MOCONNELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PATENT Crrrcn.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHARCOAL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 8,492, dated November 4, 1851.

To all whom, it mar concern.-

-l3e it known that I, WILLIAM P. McCoN- NELL, of the city of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful machine for the purpose of charring wood and coal, and for the extraction and manufacture therefrom of tar, pitch,resin, and other substances; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents the principal machine as constructed for use. Fig. 2 is intended to show the bottom of the retort, &c.; Fig. 3, a cast-iron ring.

My machine consists in a retort constructed of cast or sheet iron, and made in a cylindrical form, raised from the ground upon a sufficient number of legs, with a double bottom, the upper of which, being raised a few inches above the lower, is perforated with holes. The top of my retort is a few inches below the outer rim or edge of the retort.

IVithin my retort I construct a sufficient number of chimneys or flues. Three of these may be a sufficient number for a commonsized apparatus. These fines extend perpendicularly from the lower bottom through the upper bottom to the top, where they terminate, and are there covered with sliding dampers.

At the bottom of each of my fines is a sliding grate, and from the lower bottom is an opening and pipe or spout.

In the sides of my retort I have as many doors as may be necessary, according to the size of my machine. In the topof the retort is an opening and tube, with a damper connected with the condensing-pipes. v

In Fig. 1, A is the outside of the retort, standing upon a sufficient number of legs, ca. B is the upper bottom, perforated. C is one of the fiues or chimneys. D is one of the doors. F is the top. G G G G are sliding dampers. H is the tube from an opening in the top of the condensing-pipes.

In Fig. 2, Iis the lower bottom. 70 7c 70 7c represent the bottom of the chimneys or flues covered with sliding grates. O is the outletpipe.

Fig. 3: L, is one of the rings, which protect the fiues. These rings are narrow and of cast-iron, and pass freely within the flues or chimneys, serving as a lining and protection to them. They rest upon the sliding grates at the bottom of the fines, and fall out when the grates are removed. The position of these rings are easily changed and new ones substituted as often as the old ones become burned out or destroyed.

In working upon a large scale, the whole of my machine may be inclosed with brick, so that it may be surrounded by the fire; but this is not generally necessary.

To make tar and charcoal only, I charge my retort with the rich pine wood closely and perpendicularly packed, the lower ends resting upon the upper bottom of theretort. The fire is then applied to the fuel in the lines and upon the top, and may also be applied around the outside, and in this way the resinous substance is extracted from the wood, passes through the upper bottom, and falls upon the lower bottom, which is slightly i11- clined, and thence passes out at the outletpipe 0 in the form of tar only. In the process described no fire is applied to the bottom of the retort. If fire be so applied, the product will be pitch,because the tar falling upon theheated bottom is thus converted into pitch, while the other fluid and gas by both processes escape by the tube Hto the condensingpipes, where they are prepared according to their qualities.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The iron cylinder with a double bottonnthe upper one being perforated, and these combined with several flues covered at the top with dampers and protected within with iron rings, the whole so constructed that the fire may be applied either on the top, under the bottom, or within the flues, or in all together, at pleasure, and the whole adapted, as herein described, to the uses and purposes specified, and these only.

WM. r. MOCONNELL.

\Vitnesses:

J. BIGELOW, LEWIS L. ARQUELLES. 

